HE 


SUN-GOD 


An  Indian  Edda, 


BY  J,  E.  WHARTON, 


PHOENIX,  ARIZ 

1SS9. 


THK 


Sun-God. 


An  Indian  ECdcla 


F*rom    tHe     Xl^-tliology    and    Tr:i<litionfil    I^ore 
of  the  Sun-WorsHipiriK  In<I  i;i  us;. 


RV  j.  K.   WHARTON. 


PHCEXIX,  AKIX.: 

1'nhlishcd  by  ''Hcra'd"  Po\v*>r  Printing 

I-.'. 


COPYRIGHTED  BY 

J.    E.    WHAKTON. 
1889. 


Bancroif t  Library 


DEDICATED  TO 

MKS.  LENA  F.  SEARS, 

\VHO  SO  KINDLY  COMMENDED    AND    ENCOURAGED    THE 

COMPOSITION   AND  PUBLICATION  OF  THIS  LITTLE 

WORK,  AND  ALSO  AS  A  TOKEN  OF  THE  HIGH 

REGARD  AND  ESTEEM  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE. 

INTRODUCTION  7 

THE  CREATION  -         .            H 

ORIGIN  OF  MAN  -         -         -       17 

THE  GREAT  FLOOD  -  -         -         .           21 

THE  EVIL  SPIRIT  24 

ZUNNA  .---__  27 

THE  SUN-TRIBE  gi 

MOKTEZUMA     -         . .  -         .         .          37 

END  OF  THE  WORLD     -  -         .         -52 

CONCLUSION     -         -  .         .           5$ 

NOTES                  ,         .  ,         .         -      65 


Introduction. 


In  this  bright  clime  I  have  a  friend, 

o 

A  chieftain,  very  wise  and  old; 

Oft'  together,  we  hours  spend 

In  ancient  lore — This  tale  he  told 

A  bout  his  Sun-God's  wondrous  power; 

The  source  of  heat,  and  light,  and  force, 

And  life,  and  time,  for  every  hour 

Is  counted  by  the  Sun's  bright  course. 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

He  told  me  how  the  world  began, 
Thrown  from  the  Sun's  great  molten  sea. 
And  was  prepared  for  birth  of  man, 
And  of  its  God  the  Zaptor-Zee. 
And  how  earth's  life  when  it  is  done, 
Shall  melt  within  the.  Sun's  great  sea, 
All  dross  burned  out,  for  in  the  Sun 
Is  heat,  and  light,  and  purity. 
And  this  chief  truth  he  bade  me  know, 
"That  heat  alone  gives  light  and  force; 
That  naught  exists  without  its  glow, 
For  'tis  of  life,  the  only  source. 
That  heat  alone  makes  light  and  power, 
And  on  these  three  all  life  depends. 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

Take  lieat  away  and  at  that  hour, 
On  all  that's  living,  death  attends. 
\  et  death  is  naught  for  to  the  Sun, 
( )ur  every  vital  spark  shall  fly, 
And  when  our  earthly  race  is  done, 
The  Sun -God  guides  us  with  His  eye, 
For  in  His  sight  there's  nothing  lost. 
He  watches  all  within  His  bound, 
The  smallest  spark  though  tempest  tost. 
Safe  in  Sun's  sea,  will  yet  be  found." 


(Creation. 


"  -Twas  many  thousand  moons,  before 
The  first  man  ever  had  been  born, 
The  Sun  God  stooped  and  upward  bore, 
A  molten  mass  from  Sun's  sea  torn, 
lie  hurled  it  forth  past  farther  star, 
Then  watched  and  marked  its  bound. 
The  fiery  ball  returned,  and  far 
Beyqjid  the  Sun,  again  came  round. 


12  THE    CREATION. 

The  Sun-God  saw  the  shining  shower, 

Half  bended  like  a  warrior's  bow7. 

Then  by  his  wrill  and  magic  power, 

lie  made  the  world  in  circle  go, 

Yet  steady,  by  his  power  bound 

As  Sun-God  wills,  it  keeps  its  place, 

And  speedy  makes  each  circling  round. 

While  whirling  through  the  awful  space. 

The  thin  air  on  it  densely  pressed, 

And  much  by  heat,  to  vapor  turned. 

In  water  fell  upon  its  breast, 

While  thunders  roared  and  lightnings  burned.     , 

So  seas  were  made  and  rivers  broad, 

lian  o'er  the  black  scorched  land;  . 


THE    CREATION.  13 

Just  as  our  mighty  strong  Sun-God, 
Had  in  his  wisdom  planned. 
Then  cold  condensed  and  warmed  by  Sun, 
The  crust  breaks  into  liner  mold, 
Prepared  the  ground  and  then  begun 
The  work  of  His  Sun  children  bold. 
For  in  earth's  centre,  Zinktor-Zim, 
Ruled  by  the  Earth-God  Zaptor-Zee, 
Live  where  the  molten  rivers  run, 
Into  a  liery  molten  sea. 
Their  labor  was  like  childhood's  glee, 
Above  their  little  sparks  they  threw, 
Up  from  their  bright  and  molten  sea; 
Then  plants  and  animals,  in  view, 


14  THE    CREATION. 

Rise  living,  every  herb  and  tree. 
By  pairs  the  animals  arise, 
Of  every  kind,  each  finds  its  food, 
For  everything  beneath  the  skies, 
By  Sun-God  planned  is  very  good. 
The  plants  and  trees  and  flowers  bloom, 
To  them  the  Sun  gives  color  bright, 
For  everything  He  giveth  room, 
Must  take  its  Jhue  from  His  Sun  light. 
He  shows  this  in  His  bow  so  grand, 
That  roundly  on  the  clouds  He  bends, 
From  this  grand  bow,  en  all  the  land, 
His  shades  of  color  bright  descends. 
We  see  it  on  the  leaves  of  trees, 


THE     CREATION. 


15 


And  every  graceful  flower; 

So  we  do  find  all  things  to  please, 

In  Sim's  heat,  light  and  power. 

And  lest  we^may  remember  ill 

Immortal,  we  to  Sun  shall  fly, 

Unsightly  worms  all  dead  and  still, 

In  beauty  rise  and  float  on  high. 

And  when  in  winter  all  is  dead, 

Each  leaf,  and  plant,  and  flowrer, 

The  light  and  heat  from  His  great  head 

In  Spring,  destroys  death's  power. 

And  every  night  the  Sun  goes  down 

In  western  waves  of  Death's  great  Sea, 

When  morning  comes  His  glorious  crown 


16  THE    CREATION. 

From  Sea  of  Life  comes  bright  and  free. 
So  death  is  nothing,  life  doth  rise 
Each  day  beneath  the  Sun-God  bright, 
And  all  of  life  beneath  the  skies' 
Is  part  of  Him,  His  life  and  light. 
Earth  hath  its  life  from  Sun-God  given, 
For  heat  is  life,  and  light  and  force, 
And  everything  that's  under  heaven 
Has  life  alone  from  Sun-God's  source." 


of  7V\an. 


uFar  in  the  north,  'neath  frozen  sky, 
There  is  a  cavern  grand  and  vast, 
Where  icy  mountains  tower  high, 
So  cold  and  bleak,  no  man  hath  passed, 
Nor  can  endure.      There  is  the  gate 
Where  Zinktor-Zun  have  entered  in; 
Where  Zaptor-Zee  did  watch  and  wait 
command,  his  labors  to  begin. 


18  OKIGIN  OF  MAN. 

Hie  sliining  Sun-God  from  his  throne, 

The  signal  makes,  that  night  the  north 

Gave  Zaptor's  light,  its  bright   beams   shone 

To  southern  sky,  swift  gleaming  forth; 

In  colors  white,  that  change  to  red 

Were  these,  the  sparks  that  first  made  man, 

When  Zaptor-Zee  rais'd  high  his  head. 

And  as  this  light  o'er  earth's  face  ran, 

Up  rose  the  forms  of  men  all  strong, 

Up  rose  the  forms  of  women  fair; 

And  so  their  race  they  might  prolong, 

There  was  of  each  a  living  pair. 

Nearest  the  north  the  white  men  grow, 

A  cunning,  hardy,  crafty  race; 


ORIGIN  OF  MAX:  19 

They  get  their  hearts  from  breath  of   snow. 

While  southward  is  the  red  men's  place. 

Each  race  doth  have  its  color  true, 

From  sparks  thrown  out  by  Zaptor-Zee; 

For  in  the  north  the  white* sparks  flew. 

The  red  sparks  fell  by  southern  sea. 

And  now  the  world  was  full  of  life, 

And  chief  of  all  this  life  was  man, 

lie  ruled  the  wild  beasts  in  their  strife, 

Saw,  but  knew  not  the  Sun-God's  plan. 

So  life  to  men  was  wondrous  strange, 

They  do  as  do  the  beasts  around, 

And  learn  their  passions  fitful  change. 

In  love  and  mirth  they  first  abound, 


20  ORIGIN  OF  MAN. 

And  then  in  madness,  rude  and  fierce, 
They  shed  each  other's  blood — the  cries 
Of  tortured  victims  that  they  pierce, 
Soon  reached  the  Sun-God  in  the  skies. 
And  then  He  veiled  His  face — The  glooin 
Roused  Zaptor-Zee,  who  looking  forth, 
Saw  Sun-God's  signal  for  man's  doom, 
And  angry  lights  blazed  in  the  north." 


Qreat 


"Then  Zaptor-Zee  in  towering  height, 

Lifts  up  an  icy  mountain  vast, 

And  bowed  in  all  his  strength  of  might, 

And  forth  the  heavy  burden  cast. 

So  great  the  strain  of  Earth-God  grand. 

The  world  was  shakBn  from  its  trail, 

And  now  the  seas  swept  all  the  land, 

And  few  were  left  to  tell  the  tale. 


22  THE  GREAT  FLOOD. 

But  where  that  icy  mountain  fell, 

Tezpi  and  sons,  with  wives  did  gain 

The  mighty  raft,  and  floated  well, 

Till  landed  on  a  level  plain. 

Then  back  into  the  mighty  seas, 

The  flood's  vast  waters  quickly  ran, 

All  living  dead,  save  only  these, 

Who  should  renew  the  race  of  man, 

And  now  again  the  Zinktor-Zun, 

Ruled  by  the  Earth-God  Zaptor-Zee, 

Where  streams  of  molten  metal  run, 

Into  earth's  central  molten  sea; 

Up  through  the  earth  their  life  sparks  send, 

TTp  through  the  land  and  in  the  seas; 


THE  GREAT  FLOOD. 

These  quickly  all  the  life  do  mend, 
Revive  the  flowers,  plants  and  trees; 
They  do  their  work  with  playful  whim ; 
The  animals  now  all  arise, 
"While  in  the  sea  great  fishes  swim, 
And  song  birds  trill  throughout  the  skies. 
And  Tezpi,  with  his  sons  and  wives, 
Beneath  the  Sun-God's  cheerful  light, 
Renew'd  man's  race,  and  each  one  strives 
To  learn  and  know  the  heavens  bright; 
To  learn  and  know  the  Sun-God's  plan. 
And  wiiat  is  ill,  and  what  is  right, 
And  all  things  best,  in  life,  for  man." 


23 


"Then  came  a  demon  black  as  night, 
From  where  no  Sunlight  ever  streams, 
The  Evil  One  who  hides  from  light, 
Where  never  falls  the  Sun's  bright  beams. 
To  men  he  brings  but  sin  and  crime, 
Seeks  but  to  make  their  labor  vain, 
Makes  bad  their  hearts  with  poison  slime 
And  tries  to  break  the  Sun -God's  reign. 


THE   EVIL  SPIRIT.  25 

His  victims,  mad  with  passions  burn, 
Drives  all  that's  good  in  them  away, 
All  sweets  to  bitter  in  them  turn, 
Man's  vital  spark  he  seeks  to  slay. 


In  later  years  your  tribe  has  brought, 

This  Evil  One  to  us  more  strong, 

And  have  our  tribe  great  trouble  wrought, 

And  done  us  grievous  shame  and  wrong. 

He  is  your  fire-water  fiend, 

That  so  excites  bad  passions  wild, 

And  much  the  red  man  has  demeaned, 


26  THE  EVIL  SPIRIT. 

His  love,  and  borne,    and  life  defiled. 

Promotes  each  wicked,  sinful  scheme; 

Will  make  a  mother  slay  her  child; 

And  turns  sweet  sleep  to  demon's  dream. 

So  many  of  my  tribe — Woe's  me! 

Have  fallen  by  this  poison'd  draft, 

That  few  are  left  on  earth  to  see, 

Which  God  shall   break  this  demon's  shaft/ 


"For  many  moons  my  people  sought, 
A  warmer  home  than  frozen  north, 
And  gath'ring  all  their  toil  had  brought, 
On  southward  trail  they  journey'd  forth, 
'And  many  fell  along  the  way, 
By  mountain  demons  killed,  while  some 
From  sickness  died,  and  day  by  day, 
They  weaker  grew,  ne'er  reaching  home. 


28  ZUNNA. 

Till  all  were  dead  and  gone,  save  one— 
Our  mother,  Zunna,  beauteous  maid ; 
Most  favored  daughter  of  the  Sun, 
Here  in  this  valley,  weary  strayed, 
And  here  on  sylvan  houghs  she  found 
The  sweetest  fruit  by  Sun -God  made 
To  save  his  love.     Here  on  the  ground 
She  laid  for  rest,  her  charms  displayed. 
The  Sun-God  saw  her  good  and  pure, 
Knelt  dowrn  and  from  His  loving  eyes 
His  magic  cast — she  slept  secure. 
How  long  she  lay  the  Sun's  loved  prize, 
She  never  knew.     The  balmy  air 
She  softly  breathed,  and  had  sweet  dreams, 


THE  SUN  TRIBE.  29 

Of  lovely  lands  and  views  so  fair, 

Of  summer  vales  and  laughing  streams; 

And  lover  with  a  golden  crown, 

Who  to  her  sued  on  bended  knees, 

And  at  her  feet  low  bowing  down, 

Strove  in  sweet  words  his  suit  to  please. 

Pie  seemed  a  young  man  wondrous  fair, 

With  flowing  hair  and  sun-bright  eyes, 

Transported  with  a  love  so  rare, 

She  yields  herself  a  willing  prize 

And  then  the  time  so  swiftly  flew, 

In  love  and  joy — There  seemed  no  night 

Could  ever  shade  the  skies  so  blue, 

Blest  by  such  love,  'mid  scenes  so  bright. 


BO  ZUNNA. 

At  last  the  Sun-God  bade  her  rise, 
From  her  long  dream  of  love  and  joy; 
She  woke,  and  with  a  glad  surprise, 
Found  by  her  side  a  girl  and  boy. 
These  Zunna  loved  with  mother's  care, 
And  nursed  and  taught  them  all  she  knew, 
Of  arts  of  peace  and  wiles  of  war; 
And  when  they  man  and  woman  grew, 
The  Sun-God  bow'd  one  glowing  day 
And  straightway  to  His  home  above, 
He  took  fair  Zunna,  there  to  stay, 
Nor  let  death  mar  His  chosen  love." 


*I*ribe. 


"From  these  Sun  children  all  my  tribe 
Were  born,  so  plainly  you  may  see, 
Why  we  to  Sun -God  do  ascribe, 
Heat,  light,  force,  life  and  purity; 
For  we  His  children  knowing  more, 
Than  those  less  favor'd  e'er  can  know. 
How  Father's  sunbeams  on  us  pour, 
And  make  with  life  our  pulses  glow. 


32  THE  SUN  TRIBE. 

And  how  this  land  where  Zunna  dwelt, 
Is  man's  best  home,  on  earth  most  fair; 
For  here  the  Sun  Himself  hath  knelt, 
In  love  unto  our  mother  rar.e, 
And  here  the  Sun  keeps  lightest  day, 
And  sheds  His  brightest  beams; 
Olouds  rare  obscure  His  loving  ray, 
O'er  Arizona's  vales  and  streams," 


THE  SUN  TRIBE.  33 

4<And  here  for  many,  many  years 
Our  fathers  lived  and  toil'd  and  died. 
They  built  great  towns  and  had  no  fears 
Of  demons  from  the  mountain's  side; 
They  had  grand  temples  for  the  Sun 
And  daily  worship  always  paid; 
Had  great  ways  built  for  waters'  run ; 
Broad  fields  rich  harvests  yearly  made. 
The  tribe  was  many  thousands  strong, 
And  in  its  strength  grew  rich  and  proud, 
And  let  vile  passions  rule  it  wrong, 
Till  Sun-God  in  His  anger  bowed. 
Then  from  the  mountains  demons  came, 
And  quickly  spread  in  mighty  bands 


34  THE  SUN  TRIBE. 

And  thousands  slew,  scarce  left  a  name 

Of  Sun-Tribe  on  fair  Zunna's  lands; 

They  burned  our  homes  and  temples  down. 

Filled  up  and  dried  our  water  ways, 

And  made  the  land  a  desert  brown; 

Dead  seemed  all  love  in  Sun-God's  rays. 

These  mountain  demons  wrere  unlike 

\11  others  unto  Sun-Tribe  known, 

So  tall  and  strong,  could  death  blows   strike, 

At  every  stroke,  with  ax  of  stone. 

Our  arrows  fell  all  harmless  down, 

From  armor  made  of  bison  hide; 

And  so  they  slew  in  every  town, 

Till  Sun-Tribe's  braves  all  fled  or  died; 


THE  SUN  TRIBE. 


And  women,  children,  but  a  few 
Escaped  to  other  lands  again, 
To  seek  and  make  a  home  anew,. 
By  sea-shore,  or  on  southern  plain. 
My  band  then  driven  far  to  west, 
Found  refuge  by  a  river  broad, 
But  strongly  still  by  demons  pressed, 
Xo  temple  built  to  great  Sun-God ; 
And  so  they  lived  for  weary  years, 
And  weak  and  weaker  have  they  grown 
In  toil  and  trouble,  pain  and  fears, 
Till  Sun-God's  worship  scarce  is  known. 
At  last  a  tribe  in  friendship  bound 
Itself  unto  our  little  band, 


36  THE  SUN  TRIBE. 

And  then  returning  we  have  found, 
A  home  again  in  Zunna's  land. 
But  never  shall  we  see  again 
The  great  Sun  temples  standing  high, 
The^now  are  mounds  upon  the  plain, 
But  Sun- God  still  doth  rule  the  sky. 
Our  rites  are  few,  we  have  no  priest, 
Yet  every  morn  at  Sun-Tribe  homes, 
Our  people  watch  the  lighting  east 
To  see  if  Moktezuma  comes." 


-You  tell  me  from  your  book  that  talks. 
How  your  great  God  His  Son  did  send. 
To  live  awhile  in  earthly  walks, 
Aiid  for  us  all,  His  life  did  end; 
How  He  hath  saved  us  by  His  blood, 
And  taught  us  all  to  make  life  pure, 
I  listened,  for  the  lore  is  good, 
All's  good  that  makes  the  spark  secure. 


8 


MOKTEZUMA. 


Our  Sun -God  too,  to  us  did  send 
Great  Mokteznma,  His  own  Son; 

.*.•     •     T 

He  was  the  Sun -Tribe's  best,  best  friend, 
And  taught  us  how  all  things  were  done; 
He  showed  us  how  to  form  the  bow, 
And  make  the  feathered  arrow  shaft, 
And  how  to  meet  our  mountain  foe, 
With  all  the  hunter's  wily  craft. 
He  learned  us  how  to  turn  the  mold, 
And  brought  us  maize  and  trego  seed, 
And  built  the  ke-je,  grain  to  hold, 
As  food  for  all  in  winter's  need. 
And  bade  us  always  have  supply, 
For  twelve  full  moons  wh en  harvest  comes, 


MOKTEZUMA.  39 

So  that  no  season  cold  or  dry, 
Should  famine  make  in  tribal  homes. 
He  learned  us  how  to  make  survey, 
And  have  the  waters  outward  flow, 
From  mountain  streams,  and  so  make  way 
For  moisture,  that  our  crops  might  grow. 
The  mescal  plant  he  showed  and  taught, 
How  sweetest  food  from  it  is  made, 
And  how  its  juice  fermented  brought 
Men  passions  wild,  and  havoc  played. 
He  showed  to  us  the  compass  plant,  • 
So  we  might  never  wand' ring  lose 
,The  trail,  and  die  in  famished  want. 
He  taught  the  games  that  us  amuse, 


40  MOKTEZUMA. 

And  made  the  play  of  tossing  sticks, 

And  taught  young  men  to  throw  the  ball 

From  off  the  foot — and  simple  tricks 

In  time  pf  rest,  to  please  us  all. 

Told  each  young  man  to  choose  a  friend, 

And  to  him  ever  faithful  be, 

And  if  their  lives  they  purely  spend, 

From  every  wrong  completely  free; 

Good  spirits  shall  between  them  go, 

Though  far  apart  they  chance  to  roam, 

They  ev'ry  day  shall  surely  know 

If  good  or  ill  to  each  has  come. 

He  learned  the  women  how  to  weave 

Their  webs. of  bark,  and  baskets  neat, 


MOKTEZUMA.  41 

How  rear  the  children  they  conceive, 
And  make  the  home  life  pure  and  sweet. 
The  clay  he  showed  them  to  anneal, 
And  ollas  make  for  every  use, 
And  made  metats  to  grind  the  meal, 
And  taught  them  every  artless  ruse, 
To  make  their  lovers  love  them  well; 
So  peace  and  comfort  in  each  home, 
Where  any  of  our  tribe  shall  dwell, 
He'll  find  again  when  he  shall  come. 
He  taught  our  priests  their  worship  grand, 
And  laid  the  first  great  altar  stone, 
And  iztli,  shaped  by  his  own  hand, 
Made  sacrificial  rites  first  known. 


44  MOKTEZUMA. 

(You  shake  your  head  at  this— take  heed, 
Your  rite  was  worse  by  far  than  ours, 
While  yours  did  make  a  God  io  bleed, 
We,  with  men,  best'serv'd  His  powers. 
You  say  for  sin  blood  must  atone, 
And  pardon  brings  to  you  and  I; 
Clean  seems  the  Sun- tribe's  altar  stone, 
To  yours,  who  caused  God's  Son  to  die.) 
Ere  Moktezuma's  work  was  done, 
He  showed  us  where  the  temple  stood. 
And  how  the  shrine  of  God  the  Sun, 
On  eastern  top,  is  built  of  wood, 
And  at  the  northeast  corner  stands. 
The  bloody  shrine  of  God  of  War, 


MOKTEZTMA.  43 

For  from  that  quarter  demon  bands 
Have  always  come  our  homes  to  mar. 
And  on  the  northern  rim  shall  stand, 
The  shrine  of  Zaptor,  God  of  Earth. 
And  at  the  west,  dear  to  our  band, 
Zunna's,  God's  love,  who  gave  us  birth. 
And  at  the  south  a  shrine  be  placed, 
For  Zinktor  Zun,  who  gave  the  fields, 
The  fruitful  life,  that  hath  them  graced 
And  all  the  charm  the  earth-mold  yields. 
That  willing  victims  give  the  heart 
Alune  on  Sun-God's  holy  shrine; 
And  when  their  sparks  to  Him  depart, 
May  tell  how  fares  it  with  our  line. 


44  MOKTEZUMA. 

That  captives  taken  by  war's  art, 
Should  make  the  War-God's  face  to  shine; 
When  from  their  breasts  we  tear  their  hearts 
And  place  them  on  his  bloody  shrine, 
These  held  and  slain  by  priestly  force, 
Upon  the  round  black  altar  stone, 
So  made  to  quit  their  evil  course, 
And  for  their  crimes  in  blood  atone; 
Before  the  Earth-God  fruits  shall  lie, 

9 

The  chosen  best  of  every  kind, 
And  flowers  sweet  of  rarest  dye. 
Will  Zunna's  love  to  maidens  bind; 
And  on  the  shrine  of  Zinktor-Zun, 
Place  fruits  and  blossoms  fresh  and  fair, 


MOKTEZUMA.  45 

To  please  these  children  of  the  Sun. 
Who  made  them  grow  so  rich  and  rare. 
He  bade  that  on  the  temple  fair, 
No  idols  ever  should  arise; 
That  all  our  worship  grand  and  rare. 

Should  be  the  (rods  above  the  skies. 

•» 
He  told  us  wizards  to  destroy, 

And  all  that  work  by  demon's  charms, 
So  they  the  tribe  may  not  annoy,. 
By  any  craft,  to  make  us  harm. 
He  told  us  how  to  know  them  well, 
How  flames  do  from  their  nostrils  pour; 
And  how  they  make  dumb  beasts  to  swell, 
The  crops  to  blast,  while  sick  and  sore 


MOKTKZUMA. 


Our  maidens  pine,  or  children  wan, 
In  fever  burn,  or  kill  our  kine. 
That  all  such  demons  outward  ran, 
Be  slain  beyond  the  tribal  line. 
And  then  he  taught  us  all  the  law, 
That  should  the  tribe  together  hold, 
How  strife  should  cease,  and  any  flaw 
Lots  should  decide,  nor  love  grow  cold. 
He  taught  us  what  things  were  unclean, 
And  bade  us  very  careful  be, 
That  nothing  sordid,  vile  or  mean, 
The  Sun-God's  eye  should  ever  see, 
Lest  HL  might  veil  His  loving  face,. 
And  then  disease  or  famine  send 


MOKTEZUMA.  47 

Or  Signal  Earth-God  in  his  place, 
Again  man's  life  by  flood  to  end. 
That  bloody  issues  are  unclean. 
And  every  woman  so  bestrait, 
If  child  she  has  the  child  must  wean, 
And  from  the  tribe  must  outward  wait 
Till  issue  cease,  and  when  the  Sun 
Shines  clear  on  her,  at  early  morn 
Must  bathe  in  stream — Her  illness  done, 
Returning  then  her  lodge  adorn. 
That  woman  shall  court  her  own  love 
And  ask  the  man  to  make  her  wife, 
And  if  unchaste  she  ever  prove 
The  man  may  maim,  or  take  her  life. 


48  MOKTEZUMA. 

And  when  a  warrior  a  man  kills— 
Though  mountain  demon — he  must  bide 
Away  from  tribe,  and  hide  in  hills 
Till  the  clear  Sun,  in  morning  ride 
The  eastern  sky,  and  shining  bright, 
Then  lave  in  stream,  he  may  return 
All  clean  and  pure  in  Sun-God's  sight, 
To  where  his  lodge's  fires  burn. 
That  doctors  should  be  men  of  skill; 
If  many  die  from  fell  disease, 
The  Gods  have  seen  their  lives  are  ill; 
The  tribe  to  save  and  Gods  to  please, 
We  must  at  once  the  doctors  slay; 
Let  others  learn  and  take  their  place 


MOKTEZUMA.  49 

But  have  them  know  that  always  they 

Must  surely  die,  or  save  the  race. 

He  taught  us  that  no  vital  spark, 

By  fault  of  us  be  kept  away, 

Or  held  by  force  in  shadows  dark, 

Hid  from  the  Sun-God's  light  of  day. 

So  bade  us  all  the  dead  to  burn, 

As  soon  as  life  in  them  goes  out, 

So  that  to  Sun  they  may  return; 

And  that  night's  darkness  we  must  rout, 

By  iires  bright  for  thirty  nights, 

Upon  the  mounds,  where  we  have  laid 

Their  ashes  'neath — so  that  the  lights 

May  guide  them  thro'  the  earth's  dark  shade. 


OU  MOKTEZUMA. 

He  bade  us  too,  this  rite  to  give 

E'en  to  the  foe,  in  battle  slain; 

For  Sun-God  gave  the  spark  to  live 

And  to  him  it  must  come  again. 

He  made  the  sacred  lire  burn 

Which  must  be  bright  on  temple  dome, 

To  greet  him  when  he  shall  return 

To  take  us  to  the  Sun-God's  home. 

Far  in  the  southland  there's  a  stone, 

Great  Moktezuma  planned  and  made 

To  show  us  how  the  time  had  flown, 

And  how  the  earth  from  path  had  swayed, 

He  said  at  last  within  the  Sun, 

All  dross  burn'd  out,  pure  we  shall  be, 


MOKTEZUMA.  51 

Our  Sun-God's  children,  Zinktor-Zun, 
And  there  no  night  shall  ever  see. 

o 

Then  from  the  earth  he  went  away. 
Tp  to  his  Father's  sunlit  home; 
And  when  the  Sun-God  sets  the  day, 
He  unto  us  again  will  come." 


"When  Moktezuma  went  to  Sun, 
He  bade  us  count  each  passing  year, 
When  five  times  ten  and  two  are  done; 

At  orie  such  term  the  end  is  near. 

• 
And  on  the  night  the  tale  is  told, 

A  victim  dies  at  Sun-God's  shrine, 


52  MOKTEZUMA. 

No  light  must  burn,  all  dark  and  cold. 
E'en  Sacred  Fire  must  not  shine. 
If  on  the  morn  the  Sun  rise  bright, 
We  know  the  time  is  not  yet  come, 
The  Sacred  Flame  anew  we  light, 
And  feasts  are  spread  in  every  home." 


of  the 


"The  fathers  told  how  Sun-God  orand, 

o  . 

Iii  mighty  power  made  the  world; 

And  how  thrown  out  by  His  strong  hand, 

Past  farther  star  was  swiftly  hurled. 

And  when  we  see  a  burning  star, 

Fly  fast  on  high  with  Hery  trail, 

'Tis  a  new  world  He's  thrown  afar. 

Which  shall  repeat  the  earthly  tale. 


54  END  OF  THE  WORLD. 

And  then  they  told  the  wondrous  deeds 
Of  Zaptor-Zee  and  Zinktor-Zun; 
Who  gave  earth  life  to  serve  all  needs, 
At  signal  from  the  God  of  Sun. 
In  the  earth's  center  Zinktor-Zun, 
Ruled  by  the  Earth-God  Zaptor-Zee, 
Live  where  the  molten  rivers  run. 
Into  a  fiery  molten  sea. 
And  in  their  glee  and  revelry. 
The  molten  waves  do  often  break, 
Upon  the  shores  of  that  bright  sea, 
And  then  the  hills  and  valleys  shake. 
Sometimes  they  open  mountain  top. 
And  throw  the  burning  lava  out, 


END  OF  THE  WORLD.  55 

Or  hills  upon  the  valleys  drop, 

While  tiery  rivers  flow  about. 

For  earth  can  live,  but  while  the  heat 

In  it  shall  live,  and  glow  and  stay; 

No  life  shall  be,  no  pulse  shall  beat, 

When  heat  to  Sun  has  passed  away. 

For  heat  is  light,  and  force,  ana  life, 

And  must  forever  be  its  meed. 

I've  marvelled  much  at  white  men's  strife, 

Who  make  and  use  the  thunder  seed, 

That  sends  the  bullet  to  the  mark, 

Yet  see  not  that  'tis  heat  and  force, 

But  have  your  minds  so  blindly  dark, 

Unto  the  light,  that  shows  its  course. 


56  END  OF  THE  WORLD. 

And  then  you  make  the  tiery  horse, 
That  swiftly  runs  across  the  land, 
Which  has  in  heat  the  mighty  force, 
You  guard  so  well  with  iron  band. 
And  then  you  stretch  the  talking  wire, 
And  often  see,  and  note  its  spark; 
Who  sees  not  life  within  that  h're, 
His  mind  indeed  is  very  dark. 
Whence  comes  this  light,  is  not  the  same 
Derived  from  heat?     Then  'tis  from  Sun; 
The  Sun  makes  all  the  stars  of  flame, 
Their  hills  to  rise,  their  waters  run; 
Makes  all  their  growth  and  keeps  it  warm; 
Makes  all  that  lives  in  them  abound; 


END  OF  THE  WORLD.  57 

Makes  sunshine  bright,  and  cloudy  storm; 
Makes  all,  rules  all  the  worlds  around." 


"When  Zap  tor-Zee  the  mountain  threw, 
The  earth  ball  left  her  sun-marked  trail, 
A  little  space,  but  ne'er  anew 
Can  gain  her  path — the  closing  tale 
From  there  begins — at  every  round 
A  shorter  length,  so  we  draw  nigh 
To  Sun's  grand  sea,  with  nearer  bound. 
Yet  many  thousand  moons  go  by, 
Ere  earth  shall  reach  that  centre  bright, 
Though  each  twelve  moons  a  little  span 


58  END  OF  THE  WORLD. 

Is  won,  toward  that  sea  of  light, 
And  ,as  the  earth  grows  cold  and  wan, 
Like  aged  man,  with  motion  slow, 
Though  it  shall  have  a  shorter  trail, 
Twelve  moons  shall  always  come  and  go, 
Each  yearly  round,  to  count  the  tale, 
And  when  it  last,  its  heat  all  spent, 
It  then  can  have  no  life  or  force, 
Back  to  the  Sun  each  spark  has  went; 
The  old  earth  then  drops  from  its  course. 
And  into  Sun  will  quickly  fall; 
Its  sin  as  dross  be  burned  away, 
And  there  shall  wait  the  future  call, 
To  serve  again  the  God  of  Day." 


Conclusion. 


uBut  since  your  tribe  to  us  has  come, 
Gone  is  the  worship  of  the  Sun. 
The  sacred  lire  on  the  dome 
IP  dead:     This  yours  to  us  have  done. 
And  many,  many  moons  have  gone, 
Since  victim  died  on  altar  stone, 
And  yet  the  Sun-God  still  shines  on: 
There's  only  mounds -where  temples  shone. 


60  CONCLUSION. 

The  Sun-Tribe  now  is  poor  and  weak, 
Gone  are  its  shrines  of  cedar  wood, 
But  Sun-God  yet  some  day  will  speak, 
For  He  is  great  and  strong  arid  good. 
Mayhap  this  failing  is  the  sign, 
That  Moktezuma  soon  will  come. 
And  that  this  dying  of  our  line, 
Is  just  before  the  welcome  home. 
And  yet  sometimes  it  seems  to  me, 
That  you  and  I  both  seek  the  same 
Great  God  of  life  all  pure  and  free; 
That  while  we  grope  all  blind  and  lame, 
Your  God  of  Light,  my  God  of  Day; 
My  Moktezuma — your  God's  Son, 


CONCLUSION.  61 

Are  all  true  lights  upon  the  way, 
By  which  we  seek  life's  source — the  Sun. 
Your  God,  you  say,  is  life  and  light, 
And  sin  hath  brought  us  death  and  pain, 
And  in  your  Heaven  there's  no  night, 
Relieved  from  sin  to  die  is  gain. 
Our  Sun-God  too  is  life  and  light, 
He  sin  destroys — then  ceases  pain ; 
On  Sun's  bright  face  there  is  no  night, 
For  all  is  light  within  His  reign. 
You  speak  of  Hell  that  sin  destroys, 
And  all  the  Evil  One  hath  given 
Our  Sun  burns  out  all  that  annoys, 
And  changes  Hell  into  a  Heaven, 


62  CONCLUSION. 

For  Sun's  heat  can  no  dross  endure, 
No  sin  is  there,  no  sorrow's  blight, 
Refined  by  iire,  there  all  is  pure, 
kTis  perfect  day,  ktis  life  and  light." 


"We  both  are  old  my  white  man  friend, 
And  in  our  world  life  shall  not  see 
The  day  when  this  great  world  shall  end, 
Yet  we  shall  meet  in  Sun's  bright  sea, 
And  there  immortal  Zinktor-Zun, 
Both  you  and  I  will  ever  be; 
Or  if  the  great  God  of  tlfe  Sun 


CONCLUSION.  63 

Should  wisdom  find  in  you  or  me, 
When  a  new  world  shall  outward  run, 
He  may  choose  one  for  Zaptor-Zee; 
And  if  on  you  that  choice  should  fall, 
When  hurled  in  space  by  mighty  Sun, 
With  you  I'll  ride  the  fiery  ball, 
A  bright,  immortal  Zinktor-Zun." 


NOTES. 


NOTES. 


THE  SuN-GoD — In  writing  this  I  have  used  the 
mythology  and  traditions  of  the  River  Indians  of 
Arizona.  There  is  quite  a  difference  in  the  manners, 
laws  and  customs  of  these  River  Indians  as  com 
pared  to  the  hill  or  mountain  tribes.  They  appear  to 
be  a  remnant  of  the  ancient  Aztecs  and  claim  a 
mythology  and  traditions  many  centuries  preceding 
the  conquest  of  Mexico. 

PAGE  8.     And  of  its  God  the  Zaptor-Zee. 

I  have  not  pretended  to  give  the  unpronoun cable 
names  of  the  Indian  deities.  The  Zaptor-Zee  is  the 
Aurora  Borealis  of  the  north. 

PAGE  13.     Their  labor  ivas  like  childhood's  glee. 

All  nations  seem  to  have  their  little  people  in  their 
lore.  The  creation  of  many  things,  to  the  Indian 
mind  appears  childish  and  whimsical. 


68  NOTES. 


PAGE  15.     In  western  waves  of  Death's  great  sea. 

As  the  setting  sun  appears  to  be  drowned  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  it  is  called  by  the  Indians  the  Sea  of 
Death,  while  the  Atlantic  from  which  it  rises  in  the 
morning,  is  called  the  Sea  of  Life.  Among  the  sun- 
worshipers  peculiar  virtues  are  believed  to  exist  in  the 
waters  of  the  Sea  of  Life  which  they  use,  when  ob 
tainable,  in  some  of  their  religious  rites. 

PAGE  22.     Tezpi  and  sons  with  wives  did  gain. 

This  tradition  prevails  among  the  southern  Indians 
and  they  generally  use  the  name  Tezpi  as  that  of  the 
head  of  the  family  which  was  saved  from  the  Deluge. 

PAGE  27.     On  southward  trail  they  journeyed  forth. 
All  the    sun-worshiping     Indians  claim   to   have 
migrated,  many  centuries  ago,  from  the  northwest. 

PAGE  27.     By  mountain  demons  killed. 
This  is  English  for  what  the  River  Indians  call  the 
hostile  tribes,  especially  the  Apaches. 

PAGE  28.     Our  mother,  Zunna,  beanteous  maid. 

The  story  of  Zunna  (pronounced  Zoon-nah)  is  giv 
en  in  accordance  with  the  claims  of  the  River  In 
dians  of  Arizona. 


NOTES.  69 

PAGE  28.     The  sweetest  fruit  by  Sun-God  made. 

This  refers  to  the  mesquit  bean  which  grows  on  the 
mesquit,  a  species  of  the  acacia  tree  in  Arizona. 
From  the  pods  of  these  beans  the  Indians  grind  a 
meal  that  is  very  sweet  and  nutritious. 

PAGE  32.     O'er  Arizona's  vales  and  streams. 

As  none  of  the  ruins  of  the  great  sun  temples  are 
found  north  of  Arizona  and  as  all  the  traditions  of  the 
Aztecs  claim  that  they  migrated  from  the  northwest 
it  is  plain  that  Arizona  was  the  scene  of  Zunna's  life 
and  Moktezuma's  labors.  RfltJCTOft  LJterSTY 

PAGE  34.     They  burned  ^our  homes. 

Evidence  of  destruction  by  fire  is  generally  found 
in  excavating  the  pre-historic  ruins  of  Arizona. 
Charred  wood  and  the  burnt  ends  of  cedar  beams, 
still  sticking  in  the  walls,  where  walls  are  standing, 
attest  this  fact.  The  exterminated  people  in  some 
instances  seem  to  have  been  taken  by  surprise  while 
at  peaceful  avocations.  Their  remains  have  been  found 
near  cooking  vessels  containing  the  bones  of  animals, 
these  vessels  being  over  the  charred  remains  of  a 
fire,  showing  that  the  people  were  probably  killed 
while  preparing  their  food. 


70  NOTES. 


PAGE  34.     At  every  stroke  with  ax  of  stone. 

Many  stone  axes  -are  found  in  and  around  the  an 
cient  ruins  of  Arizona.  As  no  relics  of  the  Stone 
Age  except  such  as  might  be  used  for  weapons  are 
found  here,  this  fact  is  strongly  corroborative  of  the 
traditions  of  this  ancient  war  of  extermination. 

PAGE  35.    My  band  then  driven  far  to  west. 

The  Maricopa  tribe  almost  exterminated  by  the 
ancient  wars  sought  refuge  on  the  lower  Colorado 
river. 

PAGE  35.     At  last  a  tribe  in  friendship  bound. 

The  Pima  tribe  made  a  treaty  of  protection  with 
the  Maricopas  and  the  latter  then  removed  to  the 
lands  where  they  now  live,  at  the  junction  of  the  Salt 
and  Gila  rivers  in  Arizona. 

PAGE  38.     Great  Moktezuma,  His  own  Son. 

Moktezuma  the  great  leader  and  Law-giver  of  the 
sun-worshiping  Indians  must  not  be  mistaken  for 
the  Montezuma  overcome  by  Cortez.  Moktezuma 
antedated  the  conquest  of  Mexico  many  centuries. 

PAGE  38.     And  brought  us  maize  and  trego  seed. 

Maize  (pronounced  mice.)   Trego  (pronounced  tree- 


NOTES.  71 


go,)  is  wheat.  Of  this  these  Indians  raise  a  super 
ior  variety.  They  claim  great  antiquity  in  its  intro 
duction,  but  most  probably  received  the  grain  first 
from  the  Spaniards. 

PAGE  38.     And  built  the  Jce-je  grain  to  hold. 
The  keje  (pronounced  key -ye)  is  a  round  bin  built 
of  wicker-work  and  straw. 

PAGE  38.     And  bade  us  always  have  supply. 
These  Indians  always  keep  grain  enough  for  a  year 
in  advance,  until  the  pending  harvest  is  assured. 

PAGE  39.    He  learned  us  how  to  make  survey. 

The  pre-historic  irrigating  canals  of  Arizona  show 
that  those  who  made  them  had  some  system  of  sur 
veying.  Our  engineers  can  improve  but  little  on  the 
levels  of  these  ancient  ditches. 

PAGE  39.     The  mescal  plant  he  showed  and  taught. 

The  mescal  is  the  century  plant.  It  heads  up. 
something  like  a  cabbage  for  several  years  before 
sending  up  its  flower  stalk.  These  heads  roasted 
make  a  sweet,  nutritious  food  that  will  sustain  life 
without  any  other  aliment,  for  long  periods.  From 
its  juice  a  strong  intoxicant  is  made. 


74  NOTES. 

PAGE  39.     He  showed  to  us  the  compass  plant. 

The  compass  plant  is  what  is  commonly  known  as 
"rosin  weed"  and  grows  on  all  praries  and  plains  of 
the  west.  While  young,  its  leaves  point,  in  general 
bearing,  north  and  south. 

PAGE  40.    And  made  the  play  of  tossing  sticks. 

This  is  an  old  game  of  the  River  Indians  and  they 
sometimes  gamble  desperately  on  its  chances.  Sit 
ting  in  a  circle  on  the  ground  each  player  alternately 
tosses  up  the  bunch  of  sticks  and  the  game  is 
counted  according  to  the  position  they  happen  to 
take  on  falling  to  the  ground. 

PAGE  40.     And  taught  young  men  to  throw  the  ball. 

This  is  a  favorite  game.  The  ball  is  made  from 
gum-shellac  obtained  from  what  is  commonly  called 
"grease-wTood,"  a  shrub  that  grows  plentifully  in 
Arizona.  It  is  thrown  from  off  the  foot  for  a  long 
distance  and  then  there  is  a  foot  race  to  see  who  will 
first  recover  the  ball,  the  winner  being  entitled  to 
the  next  throw. 

PAGE  40.     Their  webs  of  bark  and  baskets  neat. 

On  the  advent  of  the  whites  into  Arizona  the  dress 
of  the  Indian  women  was  generally  a  short  tunic  of 


NOTES.  73 


woven  bark.  The  baskets  made  by  them  are  marvels 
of  patient  neatness  and  are  so  closely  woven  that 
they  will  hold  water. 

PAGE  41.    And  ollas  made  for  every  use. 

These  Indians  make  a  great  amount  of  porous  or 
unglazed  pottery.  Their  ollas,  (pronounced  oh-yahs) 
are  made  to  contain  water  and  for  all  cooking  pur 
poses.  Being  porous  the  water  sweats  through  and 
the  evaporation  from  the  outside  of  such  vessels 
makes  the  w^ater  within,  cold  in  the  hottest  weather. 

PAGE  41.    And  made  metats  to  grind  the  meal. 

The  metat  is  a  hand  mill  with  a  rubbing  or  grind 
ing  stone,  both  made  of  volcanic  trap  rock. 

PAGE  41.    And  iztli  shaped  by  his  oivn  hand. 

Iztlii  is  obsidian  or  volcanic  glass.  The  sacrificial 
knives  and  razors  of  the  Aztecs  were  made  of  it. 

PAGE  42.     On  eastern  top  is  built  of  wood. 

The  pre-historic  sun  temples  were  built  true  to  the. 
cardinal  points  of  the  compass. 

PAGE  45.    ATo  idols  ever  should  arise. 

The  River  Indians  claim  that  their  ancestors  never 
worshiped  idols.  No  remains  of  idcls  have  been 
found  in  any  pro-historic  temple  ruin  in  Arizona. 


74  NOTES. 


PAGE  45.     He  told  us  wizards  to  destroy. 

This  practice  of  killing  for  witchcraft  is  still  en 
forced  by  the  sun-worshiping  Indians.  It  is  so 
stated  by  Indian  children  who  have  been  adopted 
into  white  families.  Not  many  years  ago  the  Mari- 
copas  clubbed  an  alleged  wizard  to  death,  within  the 
city  limits  of  Phoenix,  Arizona.  The  Zunis  also  en 
force  this  law. 

PAGE  46.     He  taught  us  what  things  were  unclean. 
In  this  matter  some  of  the  customs  of  these  In 
dians  resemble  the  usage  and  laws  of  the  Jews. 

PAGE  46.     That  nothing  sordid,  vile  or  mean. 

Bancroft's  "Native  Races"  gives  a  translation  of  a 
letter  from  an  Aztec  parent  to  a  child,  that  for  its 
teachings  of  pure  morality  would  be  creditable  to  the 
enlightenment  of  our  own  race. 

PAGE  47.     That  woman  shall  court  her  own  love. 

This  rule  as  to  courtship  and  chastity  still  prevails 
among  the  Maricopa  and  Zuni  Indians. 

PAGE  48.     We  must  at  once  the  doctors  slay. 

This  law  is  enforced  whenever  there  is  any  great 
fatality  from  an  epidemic  disease. 


NOTES.  75 


PAGE  i9.     So  bade  ns  all  the  dead  to  bunt. 

As  soon  as  it  is  believed  that  death  is  inevitable, 
kindling  and  combustible  material  is  placed  under 
and  about  the  bed  and  as  soon  as  death  takes  place, 
tire  is  applied  and  the  body,  lodge  and  all  property  of 
the  deceased  is  consumed.  The  ashes  and  bones  of 
the  dead  are  then  gathered,  placed  in  an  olla  and 
buried. 

PAGE  50.     He  made  the  Sacred  Fire  burn. 

This  fire  was  to  be  kept  perpetually  burning  until 
Moktezuma's  return.  The  Indians  claim  that  it  was 
so  kept  during  all  the  years  of  the  sun  worship. 

PAGE  50.     Far  in  the  southland  there's  a  stone. 
The  great    calendar    stone    of    the    Aztecs.    See 
American  Cyclopedia. 

PAGE  59.     This  yours  to  us  have  done. 

That  the  sun-worshiping  Indians  cling  with  re 
markable  tenacity  to  their  belief  was  shown  in  the 
conquest  of  Mexico.  The  Catholics  made  few  con 
verts  except  by  force  and  only  succeeded  in  becom 
ing  paramount  by  mingling  the  Spanish  blood  with 
the  native  race.  The  smaller  bands  of  these  Indians 


76  NOTES. 


who  failed  to  be  so  united  rejected  the  Romish 
Church.  The  Zuni's  tolerate  Catholicism  but  retain 
all  their  traditional  rites  except  human  sacrifice. 
The  Maricopas  have  never  accepted  the  Catholic  or 
any  other  Christian  teaching. 


